Stock Market & Financial Investment News

AT&T expecting DirecTV deal approval 'at any time'On its Q2 earnings conference call, AT&T (T) said it expects "final approval at any time" for the DirecTV (DTV) transaction. The company said it was "very confident" it can make an adequate return on any investment it makes as part of the deal, and that it still fully expects to achieve $2.5B worth of cost synergies from the deal. AT&T said, "We are more confident than ever about the opportunity this transaction brings. We are building a unique communications and entertainment company that we believe will not only transform us but transform our industry as well."

Earnings Watch: Analyst sentiment positive on AT&T ahead of Q2 resultsAT&T (T) is expected to report second quarter earnings after the market close on Thursday, July 23, with a conference call scheduled for 4:30 pm ET. AT&T is a global telecommunications company offering wireless and long distance services. EXPECTATIONS: Analysts are looking for earnings per share of 63c on revenue of $33.04B, according to First Call. The consensus range for EPS is 52c-67c on revenue of $32.51B-$33.84B. LAST QUARTER: AT&T reported first quarter adjusted EPS of 63c against estimates for 62c, on revenue of $32.58B against estimates for $32.84B. In Q1, the company reported the following: Wireless service revenues were down 3.7% to $14.81B; Phone-only postpaid ARPU decreased 9.6% versus the year-earlier quarter; Phone-only postpaid ARPU with AT&T Next monthly billings decreased 1.9% year over year, but increased 0.4% sequentially; Postpaid churn of 1.02%; 6.2M postpaid smartphone gross adds and upgrades in the quarter; 1.2M total wireless net adds, including 441,000 postpaid and 684,000 connected cars; 1.2M branded smartphones added to base, including 700,000 prepaid. AT&T noted its FY15 standalone guidance remained 'on track,' and said it expected the DirecTV (DTV) deal to close in Q2. STREET RESEARCH: Street research has been overwhelmingly positive in the weeks leading up to AT&T's Q2 earnings report with several firms issuing upgrades on the stock. On July 1, Oppenheimer raised their price target on AT&T to $40 from $36. Following AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV, Oppenheimer expects AT&T to benefit from cross-selling, new services, and higher wireless prices. The firm expects the company's free cash flow to be boosted by its winding down of Project VIP. The firm kept an Outperform rating on the stock. Also on July 1, Buckingham initiated AT&T with a Buy rating and $41 price target. On July 9, Stifel resumed coverage of AT&T with a Buy and $41.50 price target. PRICE ACTION: AT&Tís shares are up approximately 4% since the company's Q1 report. However, over the past 12 months, they are down about 5%. In afternoon trading ahead of tonightís Q2 report, AT&Tís shares are down 0.7%.

AT&T July weekly volatility elevated into Q2 and outlook AT&T July weekly call option implied volatility is at 30, August is at 17, September is at 16; compared to its 52-week range of 12 to 44, suggesting large near term price movement into the expected release of Q2 results on July 23.

AT&T announces Department of Justice completed review of acquisition of DirecTV AT&T (T) released the following statement "We are pleased the Department of Justice has completed its review of our acquisition of DIRECTV (DTV). We look forward to gaining the approval of the Federal Communications Commission so we can quickly begin providing consumers with the benefits of this combination."

FCC chairman proposes to approve AT&T-DirecTV deal with conditionsIn light of news reports concerning the proposed AT&T (T) and DirecTV (DTV) transaction, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler issued the following statement: "An order recommending that the AT&T-DirecTV transaction be approved with conditions has circulated to the commissioners... If the conditions are approved by my colleagues, 12.5M customer locations will have access to a competitive high-speed fiber connection. This additional build-out is about 10 times the size of AT&Tís current fiber-to-the-premise deployment... and more than triples the number of metropolitan areas AT&T has announced plans to serve. In addition, the conditions will build on the 'Open Internet Order' already in effect... First, in order to prevent discrimination against online video competition, AT&T will not be permitted to exclude affiliated video services and content from data caps on its fixed broadband connections. Second, in order to bring greater transparency to interconnection practices, the company will be required to submit all completed interconnection agreements to the Commission, along with regular reports on network performance... We will require an independent officer to help ensure compliance with these and other proposed conditions." Reference Link